JONATHAN FARIA

Art: A Better Perspective on Life

Updated: Jan 16, 2018

The Hidden Benefits of Learning a new Skill .

When I moved to Calgary in 2012, I wanted to experience all that western Canada had to offer. One of those things was learning to ski and taking advantage of the wonderful ski facilities near Calgary. What surprised me about taking up skiing was beyond learning a new sport, being exposed to ski culture, a new aspect to the mountains and the speed and thrill was the hidden benefit. Specifically a change in perspective about winter. Having not taken up winter sports before, I like many spent most of the winter indoors, complaining about the snow and cold, and riding out the season. After I started skiing, I started to actually look forward to winter!

“In a sense, painting gave me a radically new way of looking at things and helped change the way I saw the world around me.”

When I started painting seriously three years ago, the same thing happened. While I enjoyed the new creative outlet, design frameworks, experience of getting lost while painting, and joining a new arts community, the hidden benefit was again a changed perspective. Instead of looking at a tree like I had before, I now looked more closely at the interplay of light and shadow, color, texture and pattern. In a sense, painting gave me a radically new way of looking at things and helped change the way I saw the world around me.

I admire people who continue to try new things, learn new skills throughout their life. Something as simple as taking up a new hobby (whether you are good at it or not) offers hidden benefits. What ever your age, a change in perspective can always be valuable!